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We reached the hangar a few minutes later. Jack raised an eyebrow as I started toward the jet. He crossed his arms and stepped in front of me. “Where do ya think yer going?”
I stopped short. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not. We’re fairly certain the Legion Spore is going to be there, and the last time you encountered that thing, Quin had to sweet talk you out of the memory.” He jabbed his thumb at Quin, who looked between the two of us, silent.
I narrowed my eyes. I might have guessed Jack would side with Lance. “You weren’t even going to ask me?”
“Pops designated me as team leader and, as such, I decide who comes. On this particular mission, you’re a liability.”
“You don’t want me coming because you don’t want to bother with rescuing Tim,” I accused. Thorns erupted across my vines. Their leaves bristled. “I’ve had memory attacks before and—”
“Jenna” —Dad stepped between us— “you’ve had memory attacks that could have gotten you killed. If we’re in the middle of a fight and you hear the Legion Spore, what happens if you can’t act?”
I wanted to protest and say that wouldn’t happen, but something similar had happened in Singapore, right when the thugs started fighting us. That wasn’t even the worst of the memories, and if one of them had shot their gun while I was incapacitated, or if the brain seed hadn’t kicked in when it did—
I swallowed hard. “What about Tim? If you find him, are you going to leave him there?”
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t,” Inese said as she walked out of the jet. “After what he did to us, he’d be lucky if we didn’t shoot him on sight.”
“What about second chances?” I demanded. “Jim was talking about forgiveness and—”
Lily barged between me and everyone else, her hands raised in the air as if she was surrendering. “Okay, know what? It would be great if we had someone who could stick around the jet while the rest of us investigate.” She turned toward me. “Work with me here,” she hissed, “if you really want to come.” She turned back to the group. “Someone who can keep the engines warm in case we need to make a fast getaway, yet not be right in the middle of the battle.”
Lance narrowed his eyes. “That still puts Jenna in danger.”
I burst out laughing. “We’re rebels. It doesn’t matter if we’re on an airship or in a Camaraderie mansion, of course we’re in danger. But she’s right.” I glanced at Lily, hopeful. Getting to the battle was the first step. I couldn’t do any good if they left me behind. “Inese has been training me how to fly. If I come with you, I can wait with the jet, that way Inese can go with you guys and keep you invisible.”
Inese let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a getaway plan.”
Jack scratched the stubble on his chin. “Does that mean you want her with us?”
“Wait a minute,” Lance protested. “We agreed—”
Jack held up a clawed hand. “We’re going to let someone with experience decide this one.”
Lance clenched his fists and shot me a glare. I shrugged, not caring if he was insulted. He’d tried to kick me off the mission without asking, even though he knew I had a reason to go.
Inese looked down her nose at me. “If you come along, no barging into battle like you usually do. I know you want to rescue people, and certain people in particular,” she muttered, “but this is Lady Black’s mansion, which means it’s likely to have more safeguards in place than we know what to do with. We’re going to go in, get the time stone if it’s there, and get out. Getting out is important. If we bring you, can we count on you to stay with the jet and keep it ready to go?”
I nodded. “I can do that.”
I didn’t care much for the idea of using the time stones, and we already had three of the five, so it didn’t seem likely that the Camaraderie could use the ones they had. But if I was there, I might, might be able to help pull off a rescue—one way or another. That, and I could protect anyone who needed protecting. I glanced at Dad. His powers made him useful for these missions, but I didn’t like the idea of him going any more than he liked the idea of me coming along for the ride.
“I’ll stay with the jet,” I promised.
Inese traded glances with Jack, who shrugged. “Well then, that’s settled. Grab whatever ya need, then be back here in five minutes.”
I ran back to my room to grab my equipment. The flower charm slapped against my chest, reminding me of exactly why I needed to rescue Tim—that he might have the same memory seeds or brain seed that I had.
I stopped by Mom’s room to give her a hug before heading out. She frowned, concerned. “I thought you weren’t going.”
“They needed someone to stay with the jet,” I explained, giving her a hug.
“Be safe,” she whispered, concerned.
“You, too.”
Once I returned to the hangar, Lily nudged me in the ribs and tossed me a snack bar. “Teamwork, right?”
I nodded appreciatively and trudged up the ramp. I plopped into the co-pilot’s seat. My pistol was in place, check. Vines, check. Long sleeves and heavy coat, courtesy of Inese and Mom’s shopping run in Singapore, check. Tim’s tablet and a few other odds and ends in case we ran into trouble, check.
Inese climbed in beside me but didn’t say anything. I got the distinct feeling that she still didn’t approve of me coming.
After the engines were prepped, we launched from the hangar bay into the morning twilight. “All right, everyone.” Inese placed a finger on the invisibility button. I put on my glasses. “Going invisible in three, two, one—”
The jet dropped away, streaking into wavering red lines. Despite the vague, shimmering glow from the glasses, my stomach rose in my throat. I grinned at the momentary feeling of freefall. Behind us, Dad and Jack sat in silence. Quin doubled-over, gagging. Lance stared at the dark, speeding sea below us.
I went back to watching the controls. It was better than thinking about Lance and his betrayal. He shouldn’t have tried keeping information from me.
A few hours later, Inese let me fly while she had breakfast. Most everyone else slept. Around mid-day we reached Canada and angled the jet toward the Northwestern territories. I took my own break. Soon after, a small red blip appeared on the GNSS. I tapped the screen.
Inese drew a sharp breath. “The Legion Spore,” she whispered. She flipped on the intercom. “Bad news, everybody.” Lily groaned and stretched, while Quin pushed a sleeping Lance off his shoulder. “There is, indeed, a Legion Spore in the vicinity of the time stone.” She cast a furtive glance at me, and then went back to piloting.
“The thing can sense technology, right?” Jack asked.
I nodded before I remembered he couldn’t see me. “Yeah.”
“Land the jet a little ways out and we’ll walk,” Jack instructed. “Maintain radio silence. Let’s not let them know we’re here any sooner than we have to. We’ll stay together, and we will turn back if we need to. I don’t want to witness a firsthand demonstration of what that monster can do.”
Everyone mumbled their affirmation, and Inese circled the jet around a potential clearing. A dark blotch marred the overcast clouds, a reminder of how close we were to the Legion Spore and our own target.
And Tim, if he was still alive.
We landed five kilometers out from the mansion among a cluster of firs and spruces. Once Inese powered down the jet, we stepped outside. Bitter wind bit my cheeks and nose.
“Lance, can you use your portals to get us closer?” Jack asked.
Lance pulled his cloak around him. “Of course.”
Jack turned to Inese. “Stay with the jet. If we need to make a quick escape, I want you right here to make it.”
She pushed her sunglasses up on her nose. “Understood.”
I blinked, confused. “I thought you wanted me to stay with the jet.”
“In a bit. We’ll scout the area, and then have you switch places.” Jack motioned for us to follow a few paces to a spot where Lance could make his portal.
“But that doesn’t make sense,” I protested. “Once we go out there, we’re more likely to attract attention if we have to come back.”
Lily nudged me in the ribs and lowered her voice. “Stop working against yourself. This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but...”
“Then come on.” She grinned.
I frowned and followed behind her, my flower charm pressing against my collarbone from the multiple layers of fabric above it, its metal warm against my skin. What was going on? The overcast clouds drifted, revealing harsh afternoon sunlight that cast purple shadows along the thin layer of snow. I pulled my coat close. My breath came out in short puffs of steam. At least this time I was dressed better for the cold weather.
Lance shivered. “This place gives me the creeps.”
“It might be the proximity to the Legion Spore,” Dad said, eyeing the sky.
Something did feel odd—aside from Jack’s change of heart regarding my part in the mission and Dad not even protesting. The trees pointed into the clouds at dizzying heights. Apart from the crunch of snow beneath our feet, the boreal forest was eerily silent. Probably from where we landed the jet, but still...
It wasn’t the first time I felt like I was being watched. I stopped in the middle of our trail.
The last time I felt something like this, Spectator had been present. But he was always right there when I turned around. This time, I didn’t see him. And I didn’t get this kind of feeling from the Legion Spore. The Legion Spore would have put me straight into a memory attack.
Or maybe... I’d felt something like this in Singapore, back when we were in the slums.
Jack wandered to the edge of the clearing. “Lily, see if you can get a sense of that stone.”
Lily walked from tree to tree, placing her gloveless hand on each, but when she finally returned, she shook her head. “Nothing.”
My vines quivered as if even they sensed something wrong with the forest. I quietly stroked them, willing them to calm. “We should get going,” I whispered, looking through the empty rows of trees and snow. My heart thumped slowly in my ears. “Something’s wrong.”
“Why don’t we scout ahead and report back our findings?” Dad suggested, looking directly at me. He frowned. “That way we don’t put everybody in danger.”
I scowled. “I’ll be fine, Dad. Besides, I thought we already were scouting ahead... and sticking together.”
“Your dad’s got a point.” Jack stepped between us, sizing up the group. “Ron can see what’s ahead—beasties or Special Forces. Lance can portal him there and back.”
“Good idea,” Lance said. “We won’t be split for long.”
“Earlier you said we shouldn’t split up.” I licked my lips, glancing at the surrounding trees. Something... something was out there that I couldn’t place, and something was wrong with my team.
“Get to it.” Jack crossed his hands over his jacket. “Don’t forget to maintain radio silence. If that tablet’s right, the Legion Spore can use techno sight.”
“Forget the tablet,” Lily mumbled, “look at what happened in Australia and Japan.”
I wandered toward a young pine tree and traced my fingers through the nettles. They left a sticky sap on my gloves, which I wiped off on my pants. “I don’t think we should split up.”
“We’ll be fine.” Lance created his portal. Dad slipped through, and the portal vanished behind them. Meanwhile, Quin and Jack considered alternative plans, and I stepped back with Lily.
“Can I talk to you a moment?” Something out there...
“Sure.” Lily leaned against a tree. “What’s up?”
My vines twisted themselves into knots and, for a moment, I felt something prod my back. I turned, expecting to see a jutting branch, but there was nothing.
Something was wrong. Was it a memory attack on my end, or outside influence? If the Legion Spore knew we were here, it had enough telepaths in its hub that it could easily manipulate all of us. The only way to know was to test out the reality of the situation. To see if things didn’t add up.
“I want to talk to you about Lance,” I whispered.
Lily stared at me. “You want to have boy talk now?”
So far, so good. I just needed to see if her answers added up. “I don’t understand why he won’t rescue Tim. I mean, I know he betrayed us, but—”
Lily shrugged nonchalantly. “Think about it from Lance’s perspective. His girlfriend is so focused on saving someone he sees as a traitor that she never has time for him. She nags on him about how he chops people up, even though a guard isn’t going to stop shooting just because she tries to knock them out. His weapon is a sword. Swords are made to kill. Plants are more... versatile.”
I held my breath. There was none of the warmth from her that I usually felt. And what did she mean, plants were more versatile? They were, but that wasn’t what we were talking about.
She looked through the trees, her eyes distant.
“Even then,” I said cautiously, “Tim was our friend. That’s got to count for something.”
She snorted. “He made a choice. So will you. Neither of you made a good fit for the Community.”
Tim made a choice? I supposed that was true, but this didn’t sound like Lily. She’d always been so nervous when talking about choices... talking about people like Clara. Besides, something else was wrong about that statement.
“So will I?” I narrowed my eyes. Did she think I was going to turn on the rebels? Was I even really here? Or was this a test from the team, to see how I would behave on a mission? Gwen could easily manipulate my surroundings if she needed to. A hint of anger stirred inside my chest. If this was real, Lily was one to talk, given that she used to work for the Camaraderie. “I already chose the Coa—”
A swirling purple mass erupted in front of me. Lance staggered through. A giant bruise spread across his cheek. He spun around, pointing at the portal. Sweat poured from the back of his neck. “Something attacked us—vines—Ron was captured.” He swallowed another breath and rested his hands on his knees. “We’ve got to go back for him.”
I stared at him. “That’s impossible.” Dad couldn’t have been captured. Dad was—
I swallowed hard and ran through the portal, then shrieked as vines lashed at my feet, toppling me to the ground. I twisted away, heart pounding as I commanded the vines to release me. I yanked my foot free, and then froze.
A plant-covered bundle writhed meters away from me. A hand reached out from it, and I recognized the simple gold band around his finger. “Dad?” I rushed toward him, but found my arms tied back in the snow by long shoots of grass. “Dad!”
Beside me, Jack swiped his claws at the roots crawling up his legs. Grass extended through the snow and twisted around Quin. A vine dropped toward him from a low tree branch, but he batted it aside with his nunchaku.
“Ron—” Jack shouted. “Ron, can you hear me?”
I focused on the vines, commanding them to let go. Pain seared through my head. I stumbled back, numb. Were they resisting me?
“Hold still,” Lance commanded, “I’m cutting through.” Dad’s bundle went limp as Lance worked his sword through the stiff vines. I flinched, feeling each cut and thrust as if he was jabbing me with a needle.
The cuts felt so wrong.
I closed my eyes, imagining the plants around me. Instead of the usual image, power emanated off them, radiating with strength similar to what I’d felt in Singapore.
Was there another plant elemental out here? It couldn’t be coming from the Legion Spore. The Legion Spore didn’t have plant powers as one of its primary abilities. I breathed deep, and then pushed against the elemental power, grabbing onto the vines with my mind and forcing them to release Dad. He gasped, pale, and toppled from the ivy.
Jack pulled him from the ground. “You all right?”
“No.” Dad shook his head. “There’s something wrong here. Some kind of life force.”
“Could we be dealing with another time stone guardian?” I asked.
“Not sure.” Dad doubled-over, breathing hard. “But there is something... strong... out there.”
I stared at the endless trees. The foreign power radiated through the forest, lighting up each tree and fern, highlighting the vines running across the forest floor. Beasties didn’t have power like this. This didn’t feel like the Legion Spore, either. Too silent. But we hadn’t even found the time stone, so it wasn’t a guardian. Couldn’t be Spectator, either. None of our sources suggested that he worked with plant powers.
“We should get back to the ship.” Lance placed a hand on my shoulder. I flinched as the grass around us flared with energy. “Before he attacks us again.”
Dad paused, staring at the two of us before shaking off whatever thought he’d had. “I agree.”
Lance opened a portal and Lily ran through. I followed, then froze as the portal closed behind me. This wasn’t the jet.
This was empty forest.
